Okay, so I got my hands on one of those Coach Demi bags, the vintage kind. It wasn’t exactly planned. I was just digging through a pile of stuff at a second-hand market, you know, the usual weekend routine. And there it was, kinda squashed between an old record player and a box of weird kitchen gadgets.
First Impressions and Getting Started
It looked… well, it looked old. Not terrible, but definitely used. The leather felt dry, like it hadn’t seen conditioner in ages. There were some scuffs, mostly around the corners, nothing too shocking for its age. The brass hardware was dull, kinda tarnished. Inside wasn’t too bad, thankfully. Just some dust bunnies and a stray old tissue. Classic.
So, I brought it home. First thing, I emptied it out completely, shook it upside down over the bin. You always find weird crumbs or something, right? Then I took a damp cloth, just water, and wiped down the whole exterior. Gotta get that surface grime off before doing anything else.
The Cleaning Process – Bit of Trial and Error
For the leather, I was a bit hesitant. Didn’t want to ruin it. I remembered I had some basic leather cleaner, nothing fancy, probably for shoes or something. Tested it on a tiny spot inside the flap first. Seemed okay. So, I went for it, gently rubbed the cleaner all over with a soft cloth. It lifted a surprising amount of dirt. The cloth turned pretty grey.
Next up, conditioning. This part’s important for old leather. I used a simple leather conditioner, again, nothing specialized. Worked it in small circles. The leather just drank it up, especially on the drier spots. I did two light coats, letting it sit for a bit in between.
- Wiped down exterior first.
- Used a generic leather cleaner gently.
- Applied leather conditioner (couple of layers).
- Tackled the hardware.
- Cleaned the lining.
The brass hardware needed some attention. I tried a bit of metal polish I had lying around, using a cotton bud for the tricky bits like the zipper pull and buckle. It took some elbow grease, but it definitely shined up better. Not perfect, but way better than the dull look it had before.
For the inside lining, which I think is fabric, I just used that damp cloth again, maybe with a tiny drop of mild soap, and carefully wiped it out. Then I let the whole bag air dry for a day, stuffed with some paper towels to keep its shape.
Using the Demi Bag Now
So, after all that, how is it? It’s small. Like, really small compared to the bags I usually carry. Fits my phone, a small wallet, keys, and maybe a lipstick. That’s about it. Forget about carrying a water bottle or a book. It’s strictly essentials only. But honestly, that’s kind of refreshing sometimes. Makes you think about what you really need.
It feels sturdy, though. You can tell it was made well back then. The leather, now that it’s cleaned and conditioned, feels much softer. The strap is short, meant for carrying on the shoulder, tucked right under your arm. Very much that late 90s, early 2000s vibe.
Why bother with this old thing? I don’t know, maybe it’s nostalgia. Or maybe it’s just nice to have something with a bit of history, something that isn’t mass-produced plastic fantastic stuff you see everywhere now. Plus, fixing it up myself was kind of satisfying. Felt like I rescued it a bit.
It’s not the most practical bag for everyday, at least not for me. But for a quick trip out, or when I want something small and classic-looking, it works. It was a fun little project, taking something tired and giving it a bit of life again. Definitely keeping it.
